Senior International Biodiversity Adviser

Post Title: Senior International Biodiversity Adviser
Team: International Advice Team
Ref No: 202532
Grade: S (SEO)
Type of appointment: Fixed-term 2 years
Location:  Peterborough or Aberdeen
Salary: £40,140

This post will have a base in either Peterborough or Aberdeen.

JNCC has adopted a hybrid working approach, allowing colleagues to benefit from time in the office, with the flexibility also to work from home. Employees are expected to work from one of our office bases for a few days a month as a minimum with attendance expected at regular face to face team meetings. Arrangements will vary by team and the exact balance will depend on the nature of your role. We can provide more details at the interview and offer stages.

Who are JNCC?

Established in 1991, we’re the UK’s statutory advisor on issues affecting the natural environment across the UK and internationally. Our primary role is advising all four Governments of the UK. We also work with private sector organisations to support decision making on the sustainable use of marine waters and natural resources around the UK. JNCC is led by the Joint Committee, which brings together members from the nature conservation bodies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and independent members appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under an independent Chair. Support is provided to the Committee by approx. 300 people who bring together scientific and technical expertise, extensive knowledge of policy at global, European and national levels, and skills in working with other organisations. Staff are based in two main offices in Peterborough and Aberdeen.

Why JNCC?

We’re small enough (c.300 staff) that your voice is heard by everyone including the CEO, but big enough that we have all the skills, resources and people you’ll need to get the job done. All our staff are passionate about conservation and making a difference to the world we live in. We have a very flexible, inclusive and welcoming organisational culture. Our Executive Management provides employees with the freedom and tools you will need, and our friendly team will assist you in your role.

JNCC is committed to maintaining employee health and wellbeing, whether it is physically, emotionally, financially or socially, and offers a range of benefits to support employees in this. Such benefits include the option to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme, professional and personal development opportunities as well as an exciting job in a unique environment.

Hours of work: Full-time

Normal minimum hours of attendance for the post are 36 hours per week over a 5-day period, Monday to Friday.

Flexi time is available. This post may also be suitable for job share.

Annual Leave:

The annual leave allowance is 25 days per year, rising to 30 days per year after 5 years’ service. There are also 12 days public and privilege leave. Part-time staff will receive this on a pro rata basis.

Post background

This post will sit in the International Advice Team (IAT), one of a small number of teams within JNCC’s International Directorate. JNCC is the UK’s statutory advisor on the development and implementation of policies affecting nature internationally. We primarily advise the four Governments of the UK and the Governments of the UK’s Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. This post will contribute to two key impact areas of JNCC’s International work:

i. Support the UK Government in negotiating ambitious and progressive global and regional multilateral environmental agreements (MEA) that use consensus to promote transformative action to achieve nature recovery. We advise the UK Government on an impactful and diverse portfolio of multilateral environmental agreements and engage with key multilateral organizations.

ii. Create innovative, transboundary evidence products for governments and administrations that provide interdisciplinary solutions that can be applied at different scales and across multiple policy areas, tackling the triple threat of biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change.

Post Duties

This post will lead the delivery of our advice to Defra on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Your main function will be to facilitate the four countries in their collective delivery of the UK’s obligations under CBD’s new Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). JNCC has already facilitated the four countries to collectively produce the UK National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), which was published earlier this year.

Your immediate priority will be to continue the co-ordination and delivery of the UK’s 7th National Report to CBD - one of JNCC’s critical milestones for FY25/26. This will report the progress being made by the UK on its 23 national targets set out in its NBSAP. You will support relationship management with and co-ordinate input from all four countries, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. You will manage the project, including ensuring on-time contributions from colleagues, financial tracking and reporting, wider stakeholder engagement activities, and science quality assurance in collaboration with Team Leaders.

You will also work closely with Defra’s CBD Team who form the UK delegation’s core negotiating team at CBD CoPs and at intervening meetings of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA). CoP17 will be held in Yerevan, Armenia in 2026. You will be expected to be part of the UK delegation at CoP17 and at some SBSTTA meetings in the run up to CoP17. You will provide expert advice on the UK’s negotiating positions and provide advice in ‘real-time’ during intergovernmental negotiations at CoP17.

To be successful in this role, you will need to have experience of participating in meetings and/or working groups of International Conventions, ideally CBD. You will need to demonstrate effective communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, adaptability, diplomacy and emotional intelligence in an international context.

To achieve this work, you will lead a small team of JNCC colleagues, delivering to a tight timescale, including line management of 2 project officers. You will need excellent project and people management skills. You will be expected to support line manages in delivery of high quality deliverables as well as development of their skills and behaviours in support of their career goals.

You will also contribute to other duties of the International Advice Team as required, including the development of new projects and specialist content areas where your expertise aligns with the organisation’s strategic priorities as set out in Together for Nature.

Person specification

Experience of the following, as demonstrated in your CV/ statement of suitability:

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of biodiversity and/or human related pressures and impacts;
• Good knowledge and understanding of environmental policies and legislation, including the Convention on Biological Diversity; and
• Experience of using scientific evidence to inform policy.

Technical

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Experience of building and maintaining relationships with a diverse range of partners and stakeholders, ideally, involving government partners and in an international context.
• Experience managing complex projects with many stakeholders.
• Experience participating in or contributing to international MEA negotiations.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

In the event that we receive a large volume of applications we reserve the right to conduct the sift based on the Lead Behaviour of Seeing the Big Picture

Please see the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade.

Nationality requirements 

This job is broadly open to the following groups: 

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

JNCC do not provide sponsorship.

Closing date and interview date

The closing date for this post is 23:55 on Sunday, 17 August 2025.

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 01 September 2025.